Environmental Studies

Introduction
&
Water Pollution

Prepared by:-
Md. Milon Sarkar
Golam Rabbi Sagor
 Introduction
What is Environment?
An environment is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals
& micro-organisms (biotic factors) in an area functioning together with
all of the non-living physical (abiotic) factors of the environment/
ecosystem.
Overview of textile supply chain
The “textile chain”
Raw materials
Primary production of natural &
synthetic fibers

Production of yarns,
knitting's & fabrics

Wet processing
(pretreatment, dyeing, printing & finishing)

Manufacture of ready made

clothing

consumption

Disposal
(of the textiles)
Few examples of environmental pollutions
from textile processing are:-
1. Cotton is a water intensive crop & is often grown in water scarce areas.
cotton requires a lot of toxic pesticides to grow & accounts for 16% of the
global pesticide use, even though it’s only 2.5% of all crops. These
pesticides runoff & pollute local ground water.
2. Most textiles used today are man-made, so all synthetic fabrics come from
oil (petroleum derivatives).
3. After fabric manufacturing, finishing agents & dyes are the next problem.
Billions of gallons of water is used annually to infuse & rinse finishing
agents & dye into fabric.
4. Textile dye contains highly toxic chemicals including arsenic, mercury &
other heavy metals which cannot be removed from the wastewater
The four heaviest impact areas of
textile/apparel & fashion industries:-
1. Raw materials
2.Manufacturing
Use of pesticides in cotton
Textile dyeing and finishing is a particularly
fields has an enormous
high-volume high-impact source of water
negative environmental impact.
pollution and CO2
Dust storms are caused by
Cashmere goat over-grazing.
3. Goods movement
4. Consumer care Shipping long distance
Washing clothes in hot water by air emits more than
has large environmental costs 40 times the C02 than
and dry cleaning requires a toxic using a container ship.
persistent solvent
Globalization of textile Business
➢in the past 30 years, from Europe, most of the textile production
shifted to Asia (China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam……)
➢end of 90ies Indians said, ‘We cannot compete with China‘. Now
China says , “we cannot compete with India, Bangladesh, Pakistan.....”
➢In the past 30 years. From Europe, almost the complete dyestuff
production shifted from Europe to China and India
Sustainability?
Sustainability is the process of maintaining change in
a balanced environment, in which the exploitation of resources, the
direction of investments, the orientation of technological development
and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current
and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.
Sustainable textile sector of Bangladesh
➢Environmental
Water
Air
Soil
➢Economic
Fair share of profit
➢Social
Working condition
Gender equity
Sustainability issues for textile industry
1. Social issues such as child labor, working condition (e.g. contract, payment,
representation) and workers health & safety. social issues which mostly occur
in the so called Cut Make Trim (CMT) stage of the textile supply chain.
2. Environmental aspects in the production process has gained attention recently.
Environmental issues includes such as land use in the production of natural
fibers (cotton, wool, bamboo), the primary fiber production through
agricultural cultivation (natural and synthetic regeneration fibers) or chemical
processing (synthetic fibers), the chemical pre-treatment or processing of fiber
& the wet processing stage etc.

Bands and retailers in Europe and the US demand more sustainability from
suppliers – Zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC) programme, Global
Organic Cotton standard (GOTS), Sustainable Textile production (STeP)………
The main environmental issues are:-

❖Water use & pollution

❖Energy use
❖Chemical use
❖Waste management.
Water Pollution: It’s impact,
control
&
Treatment
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a
result of human activities. Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers,
ocean, aquifers and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants
are introduced into the natural environment.

The contamination could be caused by physical debris such as plastic water

bottles or rubber tires, or it would be chemical such as the runoff that finds its
way Into waterways from factories, cars, sewage treatment facilities and air
pollution.
Water pollution any time that contaminants are discharged into aquatic
ecosystems that not have the capacity to remove them.
“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water”
-British poet W.H. Auden
Water Pollutants
Pollutant?
A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has
undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. A pollutant may cause
long- or short-term damage by changing the growth rate of plant or animal species.
Traditionally, the most serious water pollutants have been divided into seven major
categories:
1. Oxygen-depleting substances.
2. Nutrients.
3. Sedimentation and siltation.
4. Pathogens
5. Toxic organic chemicals.
6. Heavy metals
7. Acidity and heat.
Sources of water pollutants:-
➢Point-source water pollution is easy to recognize because it originated from a
single source and affects a specific area. This could be oil spill or a discharge pipe
from a factory or sewage system. Since this a single point of origin, this type of
water pollution lends itself to relatively easy remediation.
➢Nonpoint-source water pollution comes from multiple sources and affects both
the immediate and surrounding area. A good example of this type of pollution is
runoff from lawns or farmland. Compared with point-source, nonpoint-source
pollution is often more complicated to identify and address.
➢Trans-boundary water pollution is the most diffuse of all and impact large swaths
of the environment. Radiation from nuclear waste is trans-boundary pollution.
This type of water pollution is usually the. Most complex to remediate.
Atmospheric contaminants are also derived from human practices (such as
gaseous emissions from automobiles, factories and even bakeries).
Groundwater can also be affected by point and non-point source pollution. A
chemical spill can seep directly Into the ground, polluting the water below.
But more often than not, groundwater becomes polluted when non-point
sources of contamination such as agricultural runoff or prescription
medications find their way into the water within the Earth.
➢Depletion of dissolved Oxygen in water is the most serious effect of textile
waste as dissolved oxygen is very essential for marine life. This also hinders
with self purification process of water. If allowed to flow in drains and rivers
it effects the quality of drinking water in hand pumps making it unfit for
human consumption.
➢In addition when this effluent is allowed to flow in the fields it clogs the
pores of the soil resulting in loss of soil productivity. The texture of soil gets
hardened and penetration of roots is prevented.
➢Polluted water can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Textile
effluent is a cause of significant amount of environmental degradation and
human illnesses. About 40 percent of globally used colorants contain
organically bound chlorine a known carcinogen. Chemicals evaporate into
the air we breathe or are absorbed through our skin and show up as allergic
reactions and may cause harm to children even before birth
What are the effects of water pollution?
Our planet is comprised primarily of water, aquatic ecosystem cover
more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface .And all life on earth as we
know it relies on water to survive.
The effects of water pollution are varied. They include
➢Poisonous drinking water,
➢Poisonous food animals (due to these organism having bio
accumulated toxins from the environment over their life spans)
➢Unbalanced river and lake ecosystem that can no longer support
biological diversity
➢Deforestation from acid rain, and many other effects
These effects are, of course, specific to various contaminants
Effect of Polluted water on aquatic ecology:
1. Eggshell thinning and deformities in certain species of fish eating birds
2. Abnormal thyroid function in fish and birds, abnormal hormone levels in
birds, alligators, and mammals
3. Decreased fertility in birds, fish, shellfish, otters, and minks
4. Birth defects and high infant mortality rate in mammals
5. Emasculation and feminization of male fish, birds, turtles, alligators, otters,
minks, beluga whales, polar bears, and panthers
6. Behavioral changes in birds
7. Damage to immune functions in birds and mammals
8. Abnormal sex organs in birds, turtles, alligators, and sturgeon, Low
testosterone levels in alligators and panthers '
Benefits of Pollution prevention

Pollution prevention may result in several benefits for the textile

processor. such as –
1. Loss reduction.
2. Reduction of chemical. water and energy consumption, thereby
resulting in savings. sometimes even increased production.
3. Reduced liability for waste produced.
4. Improved compliance Nth regulations.
What is Effluent?
Effluent:
Effluent comes from the Latin verb effluere, "to flow out".
Effluent means "liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the
sea". Effluent is in general considered to be water pollution, Such the
outflow from a sewage treatment facility or the wastewater discharge
from industrial facilities.
Causes of effluents in textile industry :

The various streams coming from the different processes are mixed together to
produce a final effluent Whose characteristics are the result of a complex
combination of factors:
• The types of fibres involved
• The types of make-ups processed
• The techniques applied
• The types of chemicals and auxiliaries used in the process.
A typical example of average water consumption for
various types of fabric:

Processing Subcategory Water Consumption (m3/ton fiber material)

Minimum Median

Wool 111 285

Woven 5 114

Knit 20 84

Carpet 8.3 47

Stock 3.3 100

Nonwoven 2.5 40

Felted fabric finishing 33 213

Some related definition
BOD:
Biochemical oxygen demand or BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by
aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic maters present in a
given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period.
This test is based on the amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms biodegrade organic
compounds. Organics that are not biodegradable will report BOD value as "zero.“
COD:
In environmental chemistry, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is commonly
used to indirectly measure the amount of organic compounds in water. Most applications
of COD determine the amount of organic pollutants found in surface water (e.g. lakes and
rivers) or wastewater. making COD a useful measure of water quality.
This test use a strong chemical to oxidize compounds, often in varying degrees. Lt is
expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L)also referred to ppm(parts per million), which
indicates the mass of oxygen consumed per liter of solution
TOD (Total Oxygen Demand)
This analytical technique was developed to be equivalent to COD testing,
in that oxygen uptake was measured as a result of combustion or other oxidation
techniques. TOD analysis has similar interferences as COD analysis and has been
generally disregarded as a favored analytical method for detection of organics in
water.
TOC (Total Organic Carbon)
TOC test methods were initially developed In the late 1960's to rapidly
determine the organic content of waters accurately, without the interferences of
the above methods.
VOC (Volatile organic compounds)
VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary
room temperature. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point
which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the
liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. For example,
formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint, has a boiling point of only -19°C
(-2°F).
Different types of water quality parameter
parameter
Best Practice based pH BOD DO Total coliform
classification Mg/L Mg/L number 100

1. Source of drinking water for 6.5-8.5 2 or less 6 or more 50 or less

supply only after disinfecting
2. Water useable for 6.5-8.5 3 or less 5 or more 200 or less
recreational activity
3. Source of drinking water for 6.5-8.5 6 or less 6 or more 5000 or less
supply only after conventional
treatment
4. Water useable by fisheries. 6.5-8.5 6 or less 5 or more

5. Water useable by various 6.5-8.5 10 or less 5 or more 5000 or less

process & cooling industries

6. Water useable for irrigation 6.5-8.5 10 or less 5 or more 1000 or less

 Example Of Production & Wastewater Flow Rate Of Some Textile Mills
Wastewater Flow
Mill Material Process Dyeing
( M3/Day)
• Cotton Knitting Dyeing – 150
• 90% Reactive
A • Cotton • Dyeing Washing- 90
• 10% Direct
• Washing Total – 240
• 90% Reactive
• Cotton
B • Cotton Knitting • 10% Direct 300

• Weaving Dyeing 100

• Cotton
C • Jeans Dyeing Washing 240
• Jeans Washing Total 340
• Cotton • Dyeing
D • Reactive 400
• Washing
• Socks Knitting
• Cotton
E • Dyeing • Disperse 20
• Washing
• 85% Reactive
• Cotton
F • Dyeing • 10% Direct 300
• 5% Pigment
• Cotton • Jeans Washing 250
G
• Cloth Making

• 80% Reactive
• Cotton • Dyeing • 10% Direct
H 300
• Polyester • Cloth Printing • 10% Pigment

• Polyester • Cord Production

I • Disperse 60
• Cord Dyeing
• Polyester • 40% Acrylic
• Cord Production
K • Wool • 20% Polyester 95
• Dyeing
• Acrylic • 40% Wool
Polyester Dyeing 20
• Cotton • Cord Production • Reactive
L Cotton Dyeing 150
• Polyester • Mercerized • Direct
Total 170
 Process Major Constituents Characteristics Pollution impact Low,medium,high
• Starch derivatives H
• Semi synthetics sizing agent M
• (CMC)
• synthetics sizing agent BOD L
Sizing • (PVAs , polyacrylates) COD
Major Constituents & characteristics of wastewater from

• Additives- temperature M
• Urea, glycerin H
• Waxes % Oils H
• Preserving agents H

H
BOD(30-50% of total) COD
wet processing of cotton and blend

Desizing • Acid or enzymes

(World Bank, Paris Commission,)

Temperature ( 70-80oc)
H

• Saponified waxes, oils, fats Oily fats – H

• Surfactants BOD ( 30% of total ) H
Scouring
• Alkali pH ( HIGH) H
• High temperature Temperature(70-80oc) H

• Residual bleaching agents Peroxide L

Bleaching • Stabilizers , surfactants pH M
• Wetting agents, mild alkalinity Temperature H

BOD
H
• Alkali(NaOH) pH(high)
Mercerization H
• Surfactants Dissolved matter
H

• Dyestuffs(directs, vat, reactive, Sulphur, pigments)

• Electrolytes, Carriers Toxicity H
• Acids & alkali BOD(6% of total) H
Dyeing • Heavy metals Suspended solids H
• Oxidizing agents pH H
• Reducing agents Strong color H
• Surfactants, leveling agents

Toxicity
M/H
• Dyestuffs COD
H
• Acids & alkali BOD
H
Printing • Reducing agents Suspended solids
H
• Thickeners pH
H
• CH2O Urea & salts Strong color
H

• Acid catalysts Alkalinity L

Finishing • Surfactants, softeners BOD( Low) L
• Lubricants & Metal salts Toxicity H
Characteristics of Effluent from Dyeing and
Printing unit of a textile mill:-
Parameter unit Dyeing unit Printing unit

pH 9.2-11 6.7-8.2

Alkalinity mg/L 1250-3160 500-1080

Total solids mg/L 3600-6540 2110-2750

Total dissolved solids mg/L 3230-6180 1870-2360

Suspended solids mg/L 360-370 250-290

BOD mg/L 130-820 135-1380

COD mg/L 465-1400 410-4270

Recommended liquid effluent levels for a textile wet
processing industry:
Parameter Minimum value in mg/L
1. pH 6–9
2. BOD 50
3. COD 250
4. AOX 8
5. Total suspended solid 50
6. Oil and gases 10
7. Pesticides (each) 0.05
8. Chromium (total) 0.5
9. Cobalt 0.5
10. Copper 0.5
11. Nickel 0.5
12. Zinc 2
13. Phenol 0.5
14. Sulfide 1
15. Temperature increase less than 30C
16. Coliform 400 Most
Guideline of production and control practices
to compliance with emission
1) Avoid the use of less-degradable surfactants (in washing & scouring operation) and
spinning oil.
2) Avoid the use of benzidine-based azo dyes & dyes containing Cadmium & other heavy
metals. Chlorine based dyes should not be used.
3) Consider the use of transfer printing for synthetics. Use water-based printing pastes
where feasible.
4) Consider the use of pad batch-dyeing.
5) Use jet dyers instead of winch dyers where feasible
6) Don’t use mercury, arsenic & banned pesticides in the process
7) Control the makeup of chemicals & matching process variables to type & weight of
fabric
8) Recover and reuse process chemicals and dye solution.
9) Substitute less toxic dye carriers wherever possible. Avoid carriers containing chlorine.
10) Use peroxide-based bleaches instead of sulfur and chlorine based, where feasible.
11) Adopt counter current rinsing and improved cleaning and housekeeping.